Stand in My Shoes

25. Different Cups of Tea

At the chemistry department

The bell rang and it was the first period of the day. Sooraj immediately hastened towards the third years chemistry class. Students were just entering the classes. Nila's friends were sitting on the third row and bantering with each other. Heart was pounding and he slowly walked towards them.

Riya: Hey! You are here.

Sooraj: h..hai (smiles)

Alex: Do you know? We had been waiting for you till 4 yesterday. Were had you been?

Sooraj: We went to a seminar. That's why.

Riya: I told you to call me after reaching home. Why didn't you?

Sooraj: Sorry Riya, I forgot.

Miss Sands came to the class and everyone stood up.

Good morning ma'am

Alex (whispers): You know what? I was watching the second season of modern family yesterday. It was hilarious. You know-the we love the word thing!

Sooraj: Ah...which word?

Alex (frowns): You forgot?

Sooraj mv: Which word is it? J, M or W? I don't know what it means!

Sooraj: Yeah I've seen it. It's a very nice word. Beautiful. I love that word. (grins)

Alex raised her brow and stared at him.

Alex: Wait, you seem different today.

Sooraj (shocked): What do you mean?

Alex: Well, your behavior is kinda strange today. Did something happen?

Sooraj felt that he got caught. He tried to laugh it off anyway.

Sooraj: What made you think like that? I'm totally fine.

The class began

Sooraj mv: What's with these stupid equations and chemical formulas? I don't understand a thing. Uh...these weird names! Hydrogen peroxide, tetroxide...Argh! I left these after high school. (Yawns) Boring subject. Only crackpots like her would go for this

At the computer science department

Nila felt her head explode seeing all the coding language.

Nila mv: C C+++ L M N O P Q R S..T....Blah..blah..blah. Oh my head is burning! I don't want to study this!

Nila and Sooraj: What the heck is this subject!!

As professor Gregory was taking classes, Nila tried to do her favourite class time routine. She slowly took our the candy bar from her pant pocket. All of a sudden, she felt a hand over hers.

Avinash: Ah! You sneaked chocolate inside the class and trying to have it alone? Gimme that!

Avinash snatched the chocolate and started sharing with each other. Nila gritted her teeth in anger.

Nila mv: Argh! What a weird company he keeps!

After the break Nila, Avinash, Morgan, George and Marshall were walking through the hallways. It was really hard for her to talk like a boy. All of a sudden, Avinash put his hand over her shoulder and she flinched.

Nila mv: Take your hand off you!!! I'm a girl! (shrugs her shoulders)

Avinash: Huh! What happened?

Nila: I'm having a nagging pain in my shoulder right now.

Avinash: Really? How?

Nila: Uh..I just, ran into a pole and accidentally hit my shoulders. (grins)

Marshall: Were you sleepwalking?

Nila: No, not at all!

Morgan: Then how did you run into a pole like that? Were you blind? (laughs)

George: From today onwards we can call him-Sleepwalker Sooraj! (Laughs)

Nila raised her eyebrows at him

Nila mv: What an excellent bunch of donkeys for a friend group! He is indeed lucky. (stifles a laugh)

They took a turn.

Nila: Where are we going?

Avinash: Is it a thing to ask? To the washroom as usual.

She froze in her tracks for a moment.

Avinash: What happened?

Nila: I..I almost forgot! I have something important work to do. You guys carry on. I'll be back soon. Bye!

She turned back and ran for life.

Avinash: Hey! Sooraj, Wait! What happened to him today? He's acting weird.

Nila: Phew! It was a narrow escape.

During the physics class. The students of the computer science came to the third year chemistry class. Nila came along with Avinash and others and sat at their usual spot. She and Sooraj exchanged glances.

The students were chattering while Professor Robert entered the class. Everyone went clueless for a moment

Riya: What the heck! Where is Amar Sir?

Susan: Maybe he's a substitute.

Pr. Robert: So students of Chemistry and computer science. From today onwards, I'll be taking classes for you as Professor Amar has taken a long leave for two months. Till his return, I'll be teaching you his portions.

Everyone except Nila and Sooraj seemed astounded.

Riya: What! He's taking leave for two months! But why?

Avinash: Heard that? Amar Sir is away for two months!

I wonder what happened to him?

Does he have any health issues?

Maybe he's going to his native place

Thank God! We are relieved for two months!

Nila and Sooraj glanced at each other.
Pr. Robert started taking classes. Unlike Amar Sir, he asked questions in the middle of the lessons

Pr. Robert: Avinash! Stand up.

Avinash: Oh no!

Pr. Robert: What is the wave function probability density?

Avinash (whispers): Sooraj, what is it?

Nila: Ah..uh..don't know

Avinash: Don't say like that. Help me out please!

Pr. Robert: Are you asking your friend for help? Keep standing! Next.

Morgan got up.

Pr: Acceleration due to gravity?

Morgan: Sooraj! What is it?

Nila (nervous): Ahh..10.7m/s2

Morgan: 10. 7m/s

Pr. Amar: Fool! Stand up!

Pr. Robert kept putting questions and Nila kept passing wrong answers. He got frustrated..

Pr. Robert: Imposition for four of you!!! Write 30 times.

Avinash, Morgan, Marshall and George glare at Nila and She hid her face using a book.

Nila (grins): I'm sorry...

JudyJennifer